Title:Immunology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Sulfur Mustard Induced Airway Injuries: Implications for Immunotherapeutic Interventions
Volume: 22
Issue: 20
Author(s): Yunes Panahi, Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh, Sadegh Azimzadeh Jamalkandi, Mostafa Ghanei, Claudio Pedone, Nazila Nikravanfard, Farzaneh Nikravesh and Amirhossein Sahebkar
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Immunology, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sulfur mustard, lung, airway injury, treatment.
Abstract: Background: Sulfur mustard (SM)-induced airway injuries and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) are characterized by chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract and share some similarities regarding
the cellular and molecular mechanisms orchestrating airway destruction. Since available data regarding the immunobiology
of COPD is much more known compared with SM-mediated injuries, and considering the similarities
in the immunopathogenesis of these diseases, comparison of the immunopathogenesis of COPD and SM-induced respiratory complications
can help designing new therapeutic approaches for treatment of SM-induced injuries. Methods: A multi-database search was performed
to identify articles dealing with the role of immune system function in the pathogenesis of COPD and mustard mustard-induced
respiratory complications. Results: This review outlines the role of different components of the immune system in the pathogenesis of
COPD and mustard-induced respiratory complications, and suggests therapeutic implication for improving the management of the latter
condition as the most common chronic complication of sulfur mustard exposure. Conclusion: Although COPD and mustard lung are
overlapping phenotypes and have shared pathophysiologic features, there are certain differences between these two diseases that necessitate
further scrutiny. Combination therapies to counterbalance inflammation, oxidative stress and immune imbalance hold promise for the
management of SM-induced respiratory complications but the success of such combined treatments need to be confirmed in proof-ofconcept
trials.